EMBAR

Author:
Anant Kumar Pathak, Praveen Kumar Pathak, Mohammad Afsar Alam , Alok Tiwari
Research Scholar, Department of Geography, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

DOI: doi.org/10.58924/rjhss.v4.iss6.p23

Published Date: 29-Dec, 2025

Keywords: Coastal tourism; Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); Tourism impact assessment; Environmental sustainability; Tourism governance

Abstract:
Tourism is widely promoted as a driver of economic growth in coastal regions; but, its contribution to sustainable development depends on how social equity, environmental integrity, and economic benefits are balanced at the local level. This study assesses the multi-dimensional impacts of tourism development in Sindhudurg district, a coastal region of Maharashtra, India, using a Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)–based indicator framework. The analysis is grounded in the Toolkit for Achieving Sustainable Development through Tourism developed by the United Nations World Tourism Organization and applies 34 SDG-linked indicators across social, environmental, and economic dimensions. Primary data were collected through field surveys conducted in 23 coastal villages across the Devgad, Malvan, and Vengurla tehsils during April 2024. A semi-structured questionnaire and a five-point Likert scale were used to capture local perceptions of tourism impacts.The findings indicate that tourism has generated measurable benefits, including improved infrastructure, digital connectivity, and income opportunities, alongside the return of Received: 15-11-2025 Revised: 22-11-2025 Accepted 17-12-2025 Published: 29-12-2025 Copyright:© 2025 by the authors. Submitted for possible open access publication under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). migrated youth to the local economy. However, these benefits are unevenly distributed and spatially skewed. Significant deficiencies persist in worker welfare, hygiene standards, disaster preparedness, environmental management, and access to institutional finance for small tourism enterprises. Environmental practices remain largely reactive, with limited adoption of climate resilience measures and decentralized waste management systems. Social impacts reveal weak institutional engagement and limited community participation in tourism governance.The study concludes that without integrated planning, inclusive financial mechanisms, and strengthened local governance, tourism development in Sindhudurg risks reinforcing existing socio-economic inequalities rather than advancing its SDG-aligned sustainability objectives

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